. Pros Queuing tray for batch conversions. Live preview. IOS and Android device presets. Cons Tinkering with settings requires time-intensive trial and error.

Live preview only supports the first four minutes of video. Intimidating interface.

Bottom Line While HandBrake is neither the simplest nor the most versatile video transcoder, this free, open source, and cross-platform utility has benefited from years of development. I first discovered when I used DVDs. A lot has changed since this video transcoder was released some ten years ago. DVDs are bargain bin cheap, supplanted by copy-protected Blu-Ray disks and high-quality video streaming services such as ($7.99, 4 stars), and users access media from a bevy of iOS and Android devices. While I rarely use my MacBook's disk drive today, I do rely on HandBrake. Instead of ripping DVDs, I use HandBrake to update videos into the latest formats. From converting.AVI files to QuickTime-friendly.MKVS or downsizing.MP4s for my iPhone, HandBrake has evolved into a dexterous translator of devices and formats.

Although its interface, performance, and stability have markedly improved, HandBrake may not match the versatility or simplicity of newer alternatives; however, for users seeking a free, open source, cross-platform video transcoder, HandBrake remains an enticing option. Training Wheels Despite HandBrake's open source pedigree, you needn't be a coder or developer to use it. Installing the application is as simple as dragging it into your Applications folder.

Handbrake Converter For Mac

When you launch HandBrake, it will prompt you to locate and open a file. That file can originate as a disk or existing video file. Be advised, HandBrake only supports transcoding DVDs without copy protection. While this has not impeded my testing with DVDs, it does rule out Blu-Ray disks. Once you have selected your file, you can choose from a series of presets, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, or Android Tablet. I prefer the Universal format, compatible with all iOS devices.

Click Start and HandBrake will do the rest. On my three-year-old MacBook Pro, coding required between one-quarter and one-half a video's runtime. For example, a twenty-two minute episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia required only eight minutes to convert from an.AVI to an.MP4, whereas ripping the two-hour DVD of The Big Lebowski demanded almost fifty-four minutes. The good news is threefold: you can do other things on your computer while Handbrake works; Handbrake will notify you of both the time remaining and percent completed via its dock icon; and, using the Queue, you can batch-convert multiple files. HandBrake will alert you to 'Put down that cocktail' when your conversion is complete.

Handbrake Converter For Mac Download

Shifting Gears The HandBrake presets will likely satisfy most users. In my experience, video quality is excellent—near indistinguishable from its source—and storage sizes are roughly equivalent between formats. If you intend to rip a number of DVDs in Universal format, you will likely want to invest in an external hard drive;.MP4 files typically tally north of a gigabyte for a full-length movie.

Video-savvy users, however, may choose to fine-tune settings to maximize quality and minimize file size. HandBrake enables users to optimize encodings for the Web, toggle between video codecs, adjust bitrates and framerates, and even import chapter numbers. Tinkering under the hood can blow up in your face. While HandBrake makes it easy to access settings, less clear is what changes will do to your video file. For example, I could read esoteric information about anamorphic, modulus, and cropping settings, but I could not find an estimated file size.

When it comes to evaluating the effects of tinkering, HandBrake does bundle a live preview through which you may preview your video based upon current settings; however, you can only preview up to four minutes—the first four minutes—of your video. Tough noogies if those four minutes are not representative. Without a clear sense of how settings alter video quality or output size, I had to rely upon time-intensive trial and error and the (admittedly voluminous) expertise of users on the. Moving Forward HandBrake has developed into a sophisticated video transcoder, faster, more stable, or more feature-rich than previous builds. However, the competition has advanced as well. (free) or Aurora (Free) will let you you to rip content from copy-protected DVDs and Blu-Ray disks, respectively. (free) provides real-time output file size estimation, and (Free) offers a simpler, open-source alternative.

However, HandBrake continues to strike a balance between the needs of novices and experts alike, and its long development ensures a wealth of support materials.